16beta-lower alkyl pregnane derivatives



United States PatentQfice 2,982,768 Patented May 2, .1961

2,982,768 16fi-LOWER ALKYL PREGNANE DERIVATIVES David Taub, Metuchen, Norman L. Wendler, Summit,

and Robert D. Holfsommer, Jr., Metuchen, N.J., assignors to Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, N.J., a corporation of New Jersey No Drawing. Filed July 15, 1958, Ser. No. 748,614 4 Claims. (Cl. 260-23955) This invention is concerned generally with novel steroid compounds and with processes of preparing the same, more particularly, it relates to lop-alkyl-ll-oxygcnated steroids of the pregnane series. It relates also to novel processes for producing 16B-alkyl steroids.

The 16fl-alkylsteroids produced in accordance with the present invention are useful intermediates which can be converted to 16 8-a1kylcortica1 steroids which possess extremely high anti-inflammatory activity, considerably greater than that of the parent cortical steroids, and are especially effective for the treatment of arthritis and re-' wherein X is hydrogen or halogen, Y is alpha or beta hydrogen, Z is oxygen, dioxolane, alpha or beta acyloxy or 'hydroxy, R is alkyl and R is hydroxy or oxygen, with or without a double bond in the 5 (6)-position.

The above A -l6 alkyl starting materials of the present invention, namely, l6-alkyl-3-substituted-1l-oxygenated-lG-pregnene-ZO-ones 0r 16-alkyl-3-substituted-1loxygenated-l6-allopregnene-20-ones can be prepared by reacting the corresponding l6-pregnenes or l6 allopregnenes with diazoalkanes such -as diazomethane, diazoethane, diazopropane, or diazobutane, etc., to formthe corresponding 3-substituted-l l-oxygenated-l 6a, 17a-alkylene-azopregnane-ZO-ones or 3-substituted-l1-oxygenatedaao-allopregnane-ZO-ones represented by the following:

- 2 wherein R, X, Y and Z are as above and R" is hydrogen or alkyl with or without a double bond at the S(6)-position.

Upon heating these products nitrogen is evolved and there is formed primarily the corresponding 16-a5lkyl-3- substituted-1l-oxygenated-l6-pregnene-20-ones or 16- alkyl 3 substituted-11-oxygenated-l6-allopreguene-20- ones which are starting materials for the present process and which may be represented by the following formulawherein R and R, X, Y and Z are as above with or without a double bond at the 5 (6)-position.

In a preferred embodiment of our invention, 3a-acetoxy-l6fl-methyl-l6pregnene-11,20-dione which is represented by the following formula is utilized as the starting material. However, itis clear to those skilled in the art that other starting materials such as those described above, may be similarly converted to the desired products.

It has been found that the 3a-acyloxy-l6fi-alkyl-l6- pregnene-ILZO-dione can be hydrogenated in the presence of an hydrogenation catalyst, such as palladium on calcium carbonate to form 3u-acyloxy-16fl-alkylpregnane- 11,20-dione which may be indicated graphically as follows:

I I v H RIIIO C wherein R is alkyl, and R' is acyl.

Hydrolysis of the 3a-acyloxy-ldfl-alkylpregnane-l1,20- dione with methanolic potassium bicarbonate results in the formation of l6,6-allryl-3zt-hydroxypregnane-l1,20- dione which has the following structural formula- 3 Either-"the 3a-acylox'y-16i8-alkylpregnane-11,20-dione or the '16s-alkylwhydroxypregnane l1;20=dione bereacted with sodium hydroxide to form 16B-alky1-3u-hydroxy l7eisopregnane-l1,20-dione..which has the formine.

wherein R is as above.

Treatment of the l6fl-alkyl-3a-hydroxy-17-isopregnane- 11,20-dione obtained above with an acylating agent such as an acyl anhydride results in the formation of 3a-acyloxy-l6B-alkyl-17-isopregnane-11,20-di0ne which may be represented as follov'vswherein R and R are as above.-

Treatment of the 3a-diacyloxy-i6B-alkyl-17(20)-pregnene-ll-one with an organic peracid such as perbenzoic acid yield-s 3a,20-diacylox'y 16Ballkyl-17(20)-oxidopregnene-l l-one which may be represented as followsr w o wherein R and R' are as above;

Upon reaction of the 3a,20-diacyloxy-l6fl-alkyl-17(20)- oxido-pregn ane-l l-one with an alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide there is formed 16fi alkyl-3a, 75

17a-d 'ihydroxypregnani e-1l,20,dione which may be repre-' 'se nted "as renew s:

wherein R is as above. 1r This latter compound,,namely, 1 65-alkyl-3a,17u-dihydroXypregnane-ll,20-dione produced by our novel process can be readily converted to 16,6-methyl cortical steroids which possess eflective anti-inflammatory activity.

' As an illustration of one such procedure, 16;?! arlkyl 3ot, 20 17bz-dihydroxypregnanje41 ,20-dione can be bromina'tedto form 1 6a-alkyl-21-bromo-3a, 17a-dihydroxypregnane-1 1 ZO-dione. The latter compound then can be reacted with an acylating agent to form 16/3-alky1-3a,17a,-2l-trihydroxy-pregnane-l-l,20-dione 21-ac'ylate, reaction of the 25 latter c'ornpouhd'with an oxidizing agent such as N-bro'm'osuccinimide or chromic acid results in the formation of 1-618-'alkyl-17a,21-dihydroxypregnane-3,l 1,20 trione 21 acy-late. Upon bromination ofthe latter compound there isformed 16B-alkyl-4-'bromo-17e,2l-dihydroxypregnane' 3,11,20-trio'n'e 2l-acylate. The latter compound is reacted with semicarbazide hydrochloride to form the 3- semicarbazone of l6B-al-kyl-17m,2l-dihydroxy-4-pregnene- 3,l1 20-trione 21-acylate. This latter compound is then reacted with pyruvic acid in aqueous acetic acid to form 16B-alkyl-17m,21 dihydroXy-4-pregnene-3,11,20-trione 21- acylate. This latter compound may also be named 16;?-

alkyl cortisone ac'ylate, and possesses elfective anti-in.

flammatory activity.

Thefollowing examples are to be understood as illus- 40 trative only and are in no way to be construed as limiting the invention.

EXAMPLE 1 Preparation of 3oz-acetoxy-1 619- methylp'regnane-I 1 ,20-di0ne the filtrate was taken to dryness and the residuecrys tallized fromq'ether-hexane to give pure 3a-a'cetoxy-16B- metHyIpregnane-ILZO-diQn'e as 162 6.; 7

needles MP. 16'Ov- Analysis-Calculated for C24H36O4: c, 74.19; 1; 9.33.

Found: C, 74.15: H, 9.15.v

The 3a-acetoxy-16-methyl-16pregneue-11,20 dione used a starting. material in Example 1 is prepared by starting with the. known 3a-acetoxy-16-pregnene-l1,20

dione in accordance with the following procedure:

'In a 500 ml. 3-neck flask equipped'with condenser, dropping funnel and nitrogen inlet were placed 20 g. of

potassium hydroxide in ml. of water, m1. of methanol and 100 ml. of ether. A solution of 10 g. of N- methyl-N-nitrosoto'sylamide' in 50 m1. of ether was placed in the dropping funnel.

Diazomethane was generated by warming the generation flask to 4045 C. and cautiously adding the N- methyl-N-nitrosotosylamide-ether from the dropping funnel. Nitrogen was utilized to sweep the diazomethane into -a solution of 20 g. of 3u-acetoxy-l6-p regnene- 11,20-dione in 100 ml. of tetrahydrofuran and an. of ether. The process was continued until the steroid solution remained 5 yellow for several hours. The product, 3a acetoxy- 16e,17ot-methyleneazo-pregnane-11,20-dione largely precipitated from the reaction mixture. After 16 hours, the mixture was filtered, washed with ether and dried in air; M.P. 186-190" C. (dec.)

37.4 g. of 3a-acetoxy-l6a,l'la-methyleneazo-pregnane- 11,20-dione was placed ina 500 m1. round-bottom flask and heated by an oil bath in vacuo (pressure 0.6 mm). A manometer and 12-liter flask were in the line between the flask and pump trap. When the bath temperature reached 180 C., the 3a-acetoxy-16a,17a-methyleneazopregnane-11,20-dione began to melt with evolution of nitrogen. The maximum pressure reached was 83 mm. After 10 minutes at 180-182 C., the melt was "cooled. It had rgg 249, E%, 191

and was taken up in about 150 ml. of acetone, filtered through diatomaceous earth, concentrated to about 100 ml. and ether slowly added to the boiling solution until crystallization occurred. These crystals were 3a-aoetoxy- 16-methyl-16-pregnene-l1,20-dione, M.P. 166-167,

igg 249, Em 9300 In a similar manner, utilizingdiazoethane, 3a-acetoxy- 16-ethyl-16-pregnene-11,20-dione and utilizing diazopropane, 3a-acetoxy-l6-propyl-l6-pregnene-11,20-dione, etc. were prepared.

' EXAMPLE 2 Preparation of 3a-hydr0xy 16flmethylpregnane-11,20-dione Treatment of 3u-acetoxy-16/3-methylpregnane-11,20- dione with methanolic potassium bicarbonate at reflux temperature for 15 minutes gave 3a-hydroxy-165-methyl- 11,20-dione.

. EXAMPLE 3 Preparation of 3a-hydroxy-16fl-methy l-17- V isopregnaned 1 ,ZO-dione Preparation of 3oz-acetoxy-16 3-methyl-1 7- isopregnane-11,20-din'e To 50 mg. of 3a-hydroxy-16fl-methyl-17-isopregnane- 11,20-dione was added 1 ml. of pyridine and 0.5 mg. acetic anhydride. After 17 hours at 25 C., the mixture was concentrated to dryness in vacuo and the residue crystallized from ether to give 3a-acetoxy-16 3-methyl- 17-isopregnane-l 1,20-dione.

EXAMPLE 5 Preparation of 3a,20-diacetoxy-1 fifi-methyl- 17(20) -pregnene-1 1 -one To a stirred solution of 1.63 g. of 3a-acetoxy-l6flmethyl-pregnane-l1,20-dione in 5 ml. of chloroform and 25 of carbon tetrachloride cooled to 0 C. was added a mixture of 2.60 ml. of cold acetic anhydride and 0.13 ml. of 60% perchloric acid.

After 2 hours at 25 C., and 17 hours at 0 C., the mixture was successively washed with cold 5% aqueous sodium carbonate, and cold water and dried over sodium sulfate. The solvents were removed in vacuo leaving a 6 colorless residue. of .3u,2 0-diacetoxy-16B-methyl-l7(20)- pregnene-l l-one.

LR. A max.'5.75-5.85, 8.0 1.

Similar treatment of 3a-hydroxy-Hit-methylpregnane- 1 1,20-.dione, 3 a-acetoxy-16 8-methyh17-isopregnane-1 1,20- dione and Ba-hydroxy-lGfi-methyl-17-isopregnane-11,20-

dione also gave the 3a,20-diacetoxy-l6;3-methyl-17(20)- pregnene-l l-one. j

EXAMPLE 6 Preparation of 3a,20-diacet0xy-16B-methyl- 17 (20) -0xido-pregnane-1 1 -one TO 1.86, g; of 3a,20-diacetoxy-16B-methyl-17(20)- pregnene-ll-one in 3 ml. of benzene was added 25 ml. of 2.5 M perbenzoic acid in benzene. After 16 hours at 25 uptake of perbenzoic acid was complete. Additiona1 benzene and ether were added and the mixture washed with aqueous sodium sulfite, sodium carbonate solution and water. The organic layer was dried over sodium sulfate and taken to dryness to yield 3a,20-diacetoxy-16;3- methyl-17 20) -oxido-pregnane-1 l-one.

EXAMPLE 7 Preparation of 3a,] 7a-dihydroxy-16fi-methylpregnane-J] ,20-di0ne droxy 16B methylpregnane 11,20 dione 'M.P.' -192- Analysis.--Calculated for C H O C, 72.89; H, 9.45 Found: C, 72.97; H, 9.25.

EXAMPLE 8 Preparation of 21-bromo-3u,1 7a-dihydroxy- 16/8-methylpregnane-l1,20-di0ne A solution of 3.50 g. (9.7 millimol) of 3a,17a-dihydroxy 16p methylpregnane 11,20 dione obtained as above in 40 ml. of chloroform was warmed to 40-45 C. ,A solution of 1.76 g. (11 millimol) of bromine in 25 ml. of chloroform was added dropwise to the stirred solution such that the color was not darker than pale yellow (ca. 2 drops/see, total time-4 hour). The nearly colorless solution was cooled to 20 C. and 200 ml. of ether was added. The mixture was extracted with excess cold 5% potassium bicarbonate solution, sodium bisulfite solution and water and dried over magnesium. sulfate. The colorless residue after removal of solvent was 21-bromo-3 a, 17a-dihydroxy-1613methy1pregnane-1 1, ZO-dione.

EXAMPLE 9 Preparation of 3a,] 7a,21-trihydroxy-1(SB-methylpregnane-l1,20-dione 21 -acetate To 4.30 g. of 21-bromo-3a,17a-trihydroxy-16p-methylpregnane-'1l,20-dione in ml. of acetone and 0.10 ml. of acetic acid were added 4.83 g. of anhydrous potassium acetate and 3.85 g. of potassium iodide. The stirred mixture was refluxed for 18 hours and concentrated on the water pump to a small volume. Water was added, the product extracted into ethyl acetate, and the organic extract dried over magnesium sulfate. The product (4.25 g.) crystallized from acetone-ether to give 3a,17a,

c 7 1z myaraxyqsp-methyi regnaae-imomma tate.

'2'1 EXAMPLE l Pfepai'a'tion of 1 7a,21-dihyiiro:ty-16B{m'kthylp'fegnane-3J1,20-tri0ne 21-acetate To 30,17ot,21- trihydroXy-MB-methylpregnane 11,20- dione ZI-acetate, 4.0 g., in '100 m1. t-butanol and 20 of water cooled to -15 C-.,- was added 3.5 g. N: bromosuccinimide. The suspension was. stirred at C. until all the N-bromosuccinimide had dissolved (90 minutes). The reaction mixture'was kept at 2 C. for about sixteen hours and at 25C. for 2 hours. Sodium EXAMPLE 13 Tiepizidtion of 1712,21 dihydfoxy-ldflghthyl l tegnene-sJLzo-rrione ZI dcefate r r I 540 mg. of the semicarbazone er. 1 7u,21-d ihydro$iymp-methyi-n-pre nene-a,nae-moire ZI-acetate was dis solved in 203ml. of acetic acid, 1.5 of pyruvic acid and 5 m1. of Water. 'After '18 hours lat 25 C., water was addedand the mixture extracted with chloroform.

white solution was added to destroy bromine and the I mixture concentrated on the water pump to a low volume. granular precipitate had formed; water was added, the precipitate filtered, washed with water to give 17a,21-dihydroxy-16B-methylpregnane-3,11-20-trione '21- acetate purified by crystallization from acetone-ether.

EXAMPLE 11 Preparation of 4-br'an'w-17a,21-dihydroxy-I6fi methylpregnane-3,-.11,20 tri0ne 21 -acetate To a stirredsolution of 585 mg. of l7a,2l-dihydroxy- 16 8-methylpregnane-3,-11,20-trione 21-acetate in 10 ml. of acetic acid and 8 ml. of chloroform kept at -10 C. was added slowly 230 mg. of bromine in 6 ml. ofchloroform. After addition was complete, 1.2 g. of sodium acetate in 7 ml. of cold water was added. Additional water was added, and the mixture was extracted with chloroform. The chloroform extract was washed withdilute potassium bicarbonate, water and dried over sodi uni "sulfate. The residue was triturated with ether to give 480 mg. of crystalline 4-bromo-l7a,2l-dihydroxyll6fi methylpregnane-3J1,20-trione ZI-acetate M.P. 165- 170 C. dec.

Analysis-Calculated for C H O Br: Found: Br, 15.58.

A second crop of 133 mg. of 4-bromo-17u,2l-dihydroxy-16B-methylpregnane-3,11,20-trione 21-acetate was also obtained.

EXAMPLE 12 Preparation of the S-semicarba zone of 17a-21-dihydroxy- 16p-methyl-4-pregnene-3J1,20-trione ZI-acetate I To 583' mg. of 4-bromo-17b,2l-dihydroXy-16B-methylpregnane-3,11,20-trione ZI-ac'etate in 20 ml. of acetonitrileuhderTnitrog'en wasadded a slurry of 600mg. of semicarbazi'd'e hydrochloride and 410an1 sodinm bicar boiat in 4 ml. of water. {After2 hours, the acetoniti'ile was removed vacuo, water added and 540 mg. or crys tallin'e =3-se'micarba'zone of 17a',21dihydroxy-16B-methyl- 4*pregnene-3,1-l,20-trione Ll-acetate filtered, washed with i water and dried.

The chloroformeXt'ract was washed with aqueous potassium bicarbonate,- water and dried over sodium sulfate- Removal of solvent 'gave crude .17a,2'1-dihydr oi;y- 1'ee-methyi-4-pre nene 3,11,20 trione ZI-acetate which was purified by chromatography on neutral alumina and crystallization from acetone-ether (hexagonal plates). The pure material had M.P. 226-232 C.

13 1 9 238 in, E' -15, i 0; iggf aseags, 5.73. 5.79,

Analysis-Calculated for (3 mm,: (3, 69.21; Found: C, 69.24; H, 7.58. I

It should be understood that various changes may be made in the present process as herein described without 25' afliecting the 'results attained. Thus, various modifications of conditions as totime temperature, etc. and various changes in pi'ocedur'e differing fronr those herein given as illustrative of the preferred embodiments of this invention may be made witho ut departing from the References Cited m ne file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,701,808 Hogg et ah i Feb. 8,195 2,751,398 Hunt et a1. '19, 1956 2,786,856 Cutler et'alg; Mar. 26, 19.57 2,790,799 Djera'ssi et a1; Apr. 30, 1957 2,797,230 Nicholls June 25,1957

OTHER REFERENCES Fieser and Fieser: Natural Products Related to Phenanthrene, 3rd edition (1949), pages 390-92; 456-7. 

1. 3A,20 - DIACETOXY-16B-LOWER ALKYL-17(20)-PREGNENE11-ONE.
 3. 3A,20-DIACETOXY-16B-LOWER ALKYL-17(20)-OXIDO-PREGNANE-11-ONE. 